It's been several years since we used AI. Now when the cows number is close to the one we want and have separated the bull from the girls, decided that needs to bring some fresh blood to the herd. Some heifers and cows were already AI'ed, some should be in a month time, and some haven't calved yet.

Two heifers are incalf to this bull. Bull's BW is 75lbs, heifers were ~88-90lbs at birth. Our neighbour has three heifers sired by this bull. All are very good looking, long round shaped, very good growing girls.

One heifer is incalf to this bull. Bull's BW 77lbs. Heifer was born at ~90-94lbs. Another heifer is on her 1st term after AI today and she seems okay, so fingers crossed. That heifer has 92.5lbs BW.

Two heifers and one 1st calver were AI'ed with a Limo bull, because an Angus bull the vet had at that time isn't holding very well. This bull has 99lbs BW. He has a very good French genetics.The bull. The sire, Ryde Uranos. Dam's sire, Nenuphar.

Two Charx 4th calvers were AI'ed with BB bull. Both easy calvers. There will be a couple more cows for this bull.

One 1st calver was AI'd to INRA95 easy calving bull this week. There are some more cows for him too.

There are two bulls which haven't been used yet. Our vet should order, if not ordered yet, some straws of these two. One is Piedmontese, BW 86lbs twin. Another is Blonde d'Aquitaine bull. In photo he's ~1 year old. I very like his sire's look and how his daughters look. The sire. Sire's daughter.

frieghttrain wrote:Quite the mixed bag there! What breed is the 2nd bull? I hope you don't have calving issues with that BB bull

Both first bulls are Red Angus.Want to reduce Limousine blood in the herd and at the same time to try some breeds which we've never used before. Yes, hopefully no calving issues. Earlier we used BB only on dairy cows. This time will try on beefx. Choosing only big, mature, very easy calving cows. There will be two more cows for that BB bull. Both are Limox 5th calf cows. Our vet had some straws of 77lbs BW BB bull, but unfortunately no more in stock.Only RA and INRA bulls are easy calving, others are average and more suitable for cows, especially BB and Blonde bulls.

frieghttrain wrote:Holy smokes talk about variety! What's the matter with limousin? Are you just sampling other breeds to get a feel for what works best? Gotta say that parthenaise bulls sire has poor feet.

We won't be able to make our cattle purebred no matter how many generations will pass, so no need to use only one breed. Also using only one breed we loose heterosis bit by bit. Already have several 7/8Limo heifers/cows calving with Limox calves. Yes, we like to try new things. I always was interested in these breeds, so why not try some. It'll be interesting if we'll like those crosses. There is the possibility to import a bull of almost every of these breeds, so better try the cheaper way first with AI'ing some and seeing if we like it, before actually buying a bull. Maybe even will buy some purebred heifers if we'll really like a certain breed. Plus our recent Limousine bull won't bring that much of muscle, so it will be just better to have some calves by other more muscled bulls. Also we have almost sold all our BBx cows (the last one is 10yo, and should be culled this year), and I personally very like cows with atleast abit of BB in them.I had plans to use these breeds for several years now, and now when there is a possibility, why not.

Parth bull's sire is very good for crossbreeding, so hopefully the son will be good too. Will use him (if will get some straws) on Limox, with some Char, Angus heifers. All from good mothers, from strong healthy long living lines, so will see. Will always be able to cull the ones, which will look odd. Only had one cow with rear legs problems before. She was BBxdairy, bone structure just like BB, and went weak on her legs at ~9years age.

Thank you. I hope we'll get some good heifers. I kinda want more colours in the herd. Yeah, our market needs more meat, better expressed muscles and a medium fat. The ones who buy heifers, don't want BB and Piedmontese cross cattle, however there is another buyer from another country (Italy), who gives you better price for double muscled weanlings. The more muscled they are, the higher price. Have several places where we can sell weanlings or finished cattle, so there are no problem to sell any type of animal, as long as it is a good quality one.

Yeah, the standarts are different everywhere. Here, in Europe, in most countries, factories want more muscled breeds. Like I said before, there is one buyer from Swirtzeland, which don't need any BB, Blonde, Piedmontese, but they still pay better money for more muscled animals...

AI'ed the first cow with Piedmontese yesterday. That's her. She's 3rd calver, has some Angus, Charolais and BB from beef breeds.

9 more cows are in synchronisation process at the moment. One will be for BB bull, two for Blonde, one for INRA, three for Piedmontese and two for Charolais. My mom likes Charolais breed alot and our vet has a couple straws of a very nice young bull.https://www.progressivegenetics.ie/Stor ... LOOKOUT-ET The Charolais bull.

Edit: Found BW of the Blonde bull. 112.4lbs. After two weeks will preg check heifers and two cows. Hoping for good results.

frieghttrain wrote:You know how that works... you should be hoping to get a bull then you'll get a heifer

Yeah, that often happens. But a miracle can happen too. Yesterday just had a heifer from the top cow, despite that this season almost all calves are bulls. Well, to be fair all calves born in 2018 were bulls until yesterday...

Six cows have been AI'ed today. Two with blonde (Angusxbbxdairy and Angus,Char,Limo mix cows), two with piedmontese (7/8Limo first calver and limoxdairy cow), one with belgian blue (LimoxCharxdairy cow) and one with charolais (AngusxSalersxdairy cow).The vet couldn't find the last straw of the Charolais bull, but he had two straws of the one Char bull, we used many years ago, so used that one. He was very easy calved, our BBxdairy cow calved without problems, good growth and milky daughters. Have one his daughter and she's a very big milky cow.

Unfortunately, won't be able to get any Parthenaise straws for heifers, so had to think of something else. Going to use an easy calved Blonde bull. His birth weight was 90lbs. Will have 8 heifers for AI this summer. Five will get Blonde, two the Piedmontese and one will get our many years ago used AngusxSalers bull. The blonde bull: